It was eeriely quiet at the pasture where the newly-broke horses were housed. It was so quiet it unnerved the ranch hands.

"Boys!" Terry called as he hopped over the fence. "The horses are gone!"

"Gone?" John repeated, joining Terry with James. "They can't be. . . . They are gone."

Hyde shielded his eyes with a hand as he peered around the pasture. His eyes narrowed. "The back fence is busted down from the looks of it. That means the horses are loose out there somewhere."

The news spread through the Double A's wranglers like a wild fire. Soon, John was legging it back to the house to tell Jason and the others, bursting through the door like his life depended on it. "Jason. Jason! Jason!?"

"I'm right here, John! Slow down and breathe a moment." Jason held his hands out, putting them on John's shoulders. After a minute, he smiled. "Okay now, what's up?"

John blew out a breath. "The back fence of the pasture that holds the newly broken horses is down."

Leroy spewed his coffee all over the table before slamming the cup down. "What?!"

Annalyn came from the kitchen with a skillet of ham and eggs, the twins tagging along behind her. She sat the skillet down on the table, looking at John. "Did you say what I think you just said?"

John nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

Jason sighed, sitting down in his chair. "Might as well wait on roundin' them up until after breakfast. We got a long day ahead, and no since startin' it on an empty stomach."

Leroy wiped the coffee off the table with a tattered rag. "I agree all the way. John, get the rest of the boys and y'all come have breakfast with us. Annalyn cooked enough to feed an army."

John smiled his thanks as Annalyn laughed. "Yes, sir. I'll get 'em now."

While John left to get the others, Annalyn brought the biscuits, jelly, and milk to the table. She made a face when she put her hand down on a spot of coffee.

Leroy laughed, twirling the rag in the air and leaning his chair back on two legs. "What was that look for?"

Annalyn cut her eyes sideways, grabbing the rag from his fingers and cleaning up the drop of coffee. "You missed a spot."

Leroy leaned close, his breath lightly touching her face. "Where?"

"Right--" Annalyn flicked the rag, popping Leroy on the end of his nose-- "there!"

Leroy grabbed his nose, standing up as Annalyn took off for the kitchen. He maneuvered around his chair and dashed after her with Jason and the boys staring after them. "Oh no you don't, little lady!"

Annalyn giggled while Leroy grabbed her. She squealed with laughter, squirming in his arms. "Lemme go, Leroy!"

"Ah, ah. You owe me for that, cariño," he teased, turning her to face him. He raised his eyes to stare into her face since he was a tad shorter than her. "Ready to pay up?"

Annalyn beamed at him, wiggling and laughing even harder.

Leroy moved closer, brushing his lips against hers. "I take that as a yes," he muttered before fully kissing her.

"Eww!" Cohen wrinkled his nose.

Jason chuckled. "What's the matter?"

"That's gross is what," Cohen explained. "Plumb nasty."

Leroy approached the table with Annalyn. "It's not nasty, I promise."

Laramie had a look of thoughtfulness in his eyes. "I believe you."

"Well, I don't! I think it's awful," insisted Cohen, being very firm in his belief.

Jason smirked and shook his head. What that boy didn't know. "I'll remind you of that when you get older and kiss the girl you love. You'll think it's the best thing since sunshine."

Before the discussion could go further, the door opened and the ranch hands stepped in.

John sniffed deeply, grabbing his brother by the arm. "James, do ya smell that? It's heavenly!"

James grinned as they walked to the table. "Sure do. Miss Annalyn, that definitely smells good."

Annalyn smiled at the two boys who looked so much alike they could be twins. "Why thank y'all! And please drop the formalities, James. All of us would prefer to be called by our names."

"Yes, ma'am!" James acknowledged.

Terry took the chair beside Jason. "I'm glad you had us come eat."

"Think nothing of it." Jason gave a half smile. "Hyde, would you say the blessin'?"

When everyone bowed their head, Hyde said a brief prayer of thanks for the food, and they wasted no time digging in.

***

Dixie stretched, the blanket falling away as she moved. A beam of sunlight lay across her bed, and she bolted upright when she saw it. "My goodness!" she exclaimed to herself. "I overslept."

Dixie jumped out of bed, quickly shedding her night gown and slipping into a pale green shirt and high-waisted skirt. Brushing the knots and waves out of her long hair, her thoughts wandered back to that night. She didn't fall asleep until past midnight. While she slept, she heard a whispering voice in her dreams, and it made her rest fitful.

"Dixie! Breakfast is ready!" Tavin called through her door.

Dixie recoiled at her brother's voice. She took a few breaths before answering. "I'll be there in a minute!"

Throwing her hair up in a quick bun, Dixie hurried to the bedside table to grab the cup she'd used that night. Upon reaching the table, she found a note beside the cup. The handwriting was unfamiliar, but she picked it up anyway. Her eyes scanned the neat letters as she read:

You look so beautiful when you sleep. Too bad I couldn't have joined you, but that will be at a later date if we don't get what we want. I could've easily cut your throat, and you never would've known what happened. Keep that in mind, dear Dixie, because the next time, I won't settle for just watching you.

--Yours Truly

Dear God, Dixie half-prayed under her breath. Her mind reeled with questions and fear. What did this mean? Who was 'Yours Truly'? What did this person want?

"Are you comin', or not?" Tavin's voice sounded from the other side of the door again.

Dixie stuffed the note in the waist band of her skirt, and opened the door. She steeled herself before joining her father and brother for breakfast.

Tavin snorted as Dixie sat down. "Took you long enough."

"I'm sorry, I overslept," Dixie apologized, pouring some milk into her cup.

"It's fine, baby girl," Charles assured. "You didn't sleep very well, I know."

Dixie's eyes widened and her fingers tightened around the cup. "How?"

Charles chuckled, smearing more butter into his biscuit. "Don't look so shocked, I only heard you go to the porch and then go back to your room."

"We all know you go sit on the porch when you can't sleep." Tavin smiled as he grabbed the jar of jelly. He instantly froze. "Did we say the blessin'?"

"Son, we said it before Dixie came," Charles answered with a laugh. "You're very forgetful for your age."

Dixie laughed, and it loosened up some of the tension she was feeling. Contrary to what her father thought, she never left her room during the night.

"Guess I got a case of the young-timers then," Tavin admitted with a shrug and a chuckle. "But what I do remember is that I gotta go pick up some supplies after breakfast."

"Of course you'd remember that!" Charles rolled his eyes at the ceiling. "While you go to town, I'll be ridin' around with the ranch hands today. Dixie, that'll leave you here alone. Unless you have somethin' planned?"

Dixie folded her hands in her lap under the table. So much for her plan to tell them about the note. She'd just do the next best thing. "I plan on ridin' to the Archer's and see if they need some help, if that's okay."

"Why sure!" Charles smiled as he stirred a little butter into his grits. "If they need any extra help with ranch work, just have someone come get me and I'll bring some of the boys with me."

Tavin wiggled his eyebrows at Dixie. "She'll probably be too busy starin' at Jason to remember that."

"That's what you think," Dixie retorted, slightly arcing a brow.

After Dixie's comeback, the only sound that could be heard was the scraping of forks on plates.

"Dixie, baby girl, are you okay?" Charles asked after him and Tavin finished their food. He looked down at her full plate with concern. "You haven't even touched your food."

Dixie plastered on a smile she hoped looked genuine. "I'm fine, Pa. I'm just not hungry."

"Well, that's a first," Tavin teased as he rose from his seat. On his way out the door, he stopped by Dixie to give her a quick hug. "See ya later! Tell Jason and the boys I said hi."

Dixie smiled for real this time. "I will, Tae. Will you stop by when you're through in town?"

"Yep I sure will," Tavin said with a grin before ducking out the door.

Charles got up and gave his daughter a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'm headin' on out to go work with the boys. I'll go ahead and have Sundancer saddled up for you, sugar. I love you."

"I love you, too," Dixie returned. She watched her father walk out the door before washing the breakfast dishes. Before long, she was making her way to the barn to get Sundancer.

As soon as Dixie stepped foot into the barn, a shimmery golden gelding nickered loudly in greeting. The large horse stood in the middle of the barn, his pale tail swishing in excitement.

"Hey boy," Dixie cooed, gently grabbing Sundancer's muzzle and planting a kiss on his velvety nose. She giggled when he blew his warm breath on her face. She was so caught up on loving on her horse that she didn't notice the slim Mexican standing nearby watching with a smile.

"He's been waitin' on you."

Dixie jumped at the voice and Sundancer pinned his ears back. She turned to see the young man smiling brightly at her. "My goodness, Miguel, you scared me! I didn't know you were here."

Miguel grinned and stood by Dixie, reaching out to scrub Sundancer's ears. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, amiga."

Dixie gave a small laugh. "It's quite alright. Thank you for saddlin' Sundancer for me."

"It's my pleasure," Miguel assured. He scuffed his boots against the barn floor, staring down at them before looking up into Dixie's eyes. "Would you allow me to help you up?"

Dixie recognized the look on Miguel's face, and it nearly persuaded her to decline his offer. As much as she wanted to avoid contact with Miguel, she needed help up. There was no way she'd get on by herself without her skirt coming up, and she didn't want that happening with Miguel standing there. "Yes, if you don't mind."

In a matter of moments, Miguel had Dixie sitting atop Sundancer. She looked down at him and offered a smile of appreciation. "Thanks for the help, Miguel."

Miguel returned the smile, his brown eyes warm. "No problema. I hope you have fun today."

"I hope so, too," Dixie agreed as Sundancer walked her out of the barn. "Maybe Jason won't be too busy so we can spend time together."

Miguel dropped his gaze as Dixie rode out. "Maybe he won't," he said quietly, but Dixie was already gone.